Monday, October 8, 2012

Livestrong Day Philippines: Believe in Life

In the Philippines,
cancer is the third leading cause of death. Yet there are very little cancer
prevention programs or consciousness programs. What does this mean? With little
awareness or concern, for your relative, friend, officemate or you, this may
mean, recognizing it too late, diagnosing too late or less chances of
surviving. In the Philippines,
cancer survival rates are low.

Team Philippines Benefitting LIVESTRONG
works to change these facts because we know we live in a society where change
can easily be done. But we just need your support. In our society, spreading
knowledge is about creating the numbers, coming together as one group of
individuals who empower each other, and demand change. Think about your friend or family member, or
that story you heard from someone else – those people who have faced cancer,
are fighting cancer or whose lives were forever changed by cancer. They are the
people we are coming together for.

Every year, Lance Armstrong celebrates his induction into cancer on October
2nd. Team Philippines,
supports this organization because we believe that the Lance Armstrong
Foundation is one that attacks cancer holistically. The fight is not only about
the research or the medication. It is about the people who are fighting, their
families who are strong and struggling, the lifestyles that keep us healthy and
cancer-free and the awareness that we need to take action.

This year, we will hold the Philippine event on October 21st
a Sunday. It is a bike and run event designed to unite, inspire and empower
people affected by cancer as well as to promote the need for healthy
lifestyles. The proceeds of which will support local projects that furthers the
advocacies of LIVESTRONG.

The LIVESTRONG Foundation was founded in 1997 by Lance, whose
mission is to inspire and empower people affected by cancer, to unite people to
fight cancer through programs, experiences, taking aim at the gap between what
is known and what is done, for cancer prevention, providing access to screening
and care, research - to improve the quality of life for cancer survivors - that
you must not let cancer take control of it.

The annual event is now known as LIVESTRONG Day Philippines,
hosted by Circulo Verde, an Ortigas & Company development in Calle
Industria, Quezon City.
Thankfully, we are not alone in this fight. Organizations like the Ortigas
& Company have been gracious in extending their support. This support helps
offset the costs associated with the event day, but also generates donations
that we turnover to local cancer foundations. This also means that participants
of the event enjoy some token items at the activity areas. Aside from Circulo Verde supporting us, we
have Makati Medical Center, Go Nattural Corporation’s Ampalaya Plus, Booster C
energy shots, Gold’s Gym, MyTAG, San Miguel Beer, Dunkin Donuts, Manila Water,
Enduro & Trifemme Sports, Multisport magazine, BikeBros, LoopBikers,
PasigMTB, mtb.ph, the Pasig City Running
Club, and Multiply.com for our online all-mode payment portal.

To continue year-round, at the event they also engage activities aimed at raising funds to cover event expenses. Through
the sale of jerseys and merchandise, it be able to fund the event. Personal donations are also welcome because
these are personal actions that unite us against the fight. In 2011, the event
was 3000 strong, this year they hope for more. Coming together empowers, it is their strength. It reminds us that they are not alone in this fight and there are
many others that need support.

Last year, Team Philippines Benefitting LIVESTRONG asked the Philippines
to imagine their world without cancer. This year, they ask for your strength. They believe that coming together, fighting as an entire society gives strength. They encourage everyone to come. Believe that Unity is Strength.